”The Spotlight Refocused”
The Imperial Theatre
Administration Office
Kaas City, Dromund KaasEkaterina Koshkova stared out the window towards Kaas City. Rain was falling, and had been falling since she arrived at the spaceport. She quietly removed her hat and loosened the top button of her dress that seemed to be choking her right now.
At only twenty years old, Katia was well traveled, but her presence in the Empire had been limited and long ago. For the first time in a long time, she felt shell shocked. Being swarmed by media at the spaceport wasn't unusual, that at least had been standard and expected. It was the ride to her new home that left her uneasy.
The military presence was abundant here. Not that she hated them or were afraid of them, but this was
the Imperial military and she was an outsider. She wasn't like other citizens, she had to prove her worth and that she belonged.
Not that she didn't feel she was always trying to prove something. Alderaan was no different, but at least she was used to the snobby nobles and knew she could freely turn down an “escort service” to one of those brats from house Panteer. But what if a Sith Lord--
“I thought you’d be in the studio by now.”
Katia’s thoughts were interrupted as her father walked into the office. She turned and gave him her typical smile.
Sergei Koshkov knew his daughter well, and knew her ‘public smile’ even better. He frowned.
“What's wrong, Katia?”
Her smile disappeared and she sighed. “It's all so different,” she didn't bother to lie. “The people, the government, where we stand.”
“We’re where we've always been,” Sergei assured her. “We're here to dance, to perform. Lady Bluedark has been--”
“I know,” Katia stopped him. “I guess I'm just….” she sighed and turned back to the window. “This is a far cry from Coruscant, and does it ever stop raining? I mean, I'm fair skinned as it is, but I'm going to be as white as the snow on Hoth.”
She went and sat on the edge of her father's desk. She looked down as she turned her fancy hat over in her hands. “I'm not saying I'm not glad to be here. I am, but…”
“You're tired, Katia. It was a long trip to Nar Shaddaa, and a long trip here to our new home,” Sergei crossed his arms and glanced out the window. “Perhaps tomorrow you could get out, familiarize yourself better with the city.”
“Alone?” she looked over at him.
“There's nothing to be scared of. It's just a different place with different people.”
Katia nodded. “I wish Lady Bluedark were here, she’d at least be able to show me around. And is it just me, or do you also feel like people are trying to use you for some kind of personal gain?”
Sergei raised a brow. “Oh?” where was this coming from?
Katia just sighed and shook her head.
“No,” her father wouldn't allow her dismissal of the topic.
And there was no arguing him. “Just Nar Shaddaa, and that photographer and the…. the people. I don't know, I,can never tell who is sincere or who wants fifteen seconds in the spotlight with me.”
Her father nodded. “Would you like to hear something that might cheer you up? Empress Acina, Sith Lords and high ranking Imperial Officers take the spotlight here.”
Katia grinned.
“You just find that you can really focus here,” her father finished, smiling.
The young artist pushed herself from her father's desk and gave him a look, trying to hide her smile. “I'm going to rest.... at least the rain is soothing.”
